23 organisations express concern over impunity for Malaysian labour market syndicate

The Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM) — an alliance of 23 migration-related organisations — has expressed deep concern over reports that individuals linked to the "syndicate" in the Malaysian labour market will face no charges and that investigations against them have been halted.

In a statement signed by the alliance Chair Dr Tasneem Siddiqui and Co-Chair Syed Saiful Haque, the alliance said that granting impunity to those involved in syndicates in the past could lead to a recurrence of similar corruption and exploitation in the future.

Citing an 11 August report published in The Business Standard, the statement noted that several former MPs — including family members of former lawmaker AHM Mustafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal) — are being cleared of allegations related to syndicate involvement in the Malaysian labour market. It also referred to a Malaysiakini report stating that, at Malaysia's request, the Bangladesh government has agreed to suspend the investigation against the syndicate.

Calling the situation "deeply worrying," Civil Society for Migrants said that past irregularities caused by the syndicate had led to the closure of the Malaysian labour market to Bangladeshi workers, and such incidents must not be repeated. The alliance demanded that those accused of past corruption be reinvestigated and subjected to judicial inquiry, ensuring that there is no scope for impunity.

The statement added that between 2022 and 2024, Bangladeshi workers bound for Malaysia were charged five to six times the government-set recruitment fee. According to the government's economic white paper, media reports, and Anti-Corruption Commission complaints, this resulted in corruption amounting to several thousand crore taka. Yet, there has been no proper trial of those involved.

Civil Society for Migrants expressed fears that granting impunity to the accused could allow the old syndicate to become active again. They stressed that efforts to reopen the Malaysian labour market must not be conducted without transparency and accountability.

The alliance demanded that the issue be given top priority during the chief adviser's 11–13 August visit to Malaysia and that effective measures be taken to dismantle the syndicate.

It also recalled that in 2017 and 2018, a 10-member syndicate operated in the labour market, creating widespread irregularities. No one was punished for those allegations either, the group said.

The 23 organisations in the alliance include: RMMRU, BRAC, WARBE Development Foundation, OKUP, Ain o Salish Kendra, Manusher Jonno Foundation, and several others.